Discussion
About 3 years ago I was coming down the M5 on a sunny day, and this fantastic black low little mk1 came hooning past... It was in that moment that I realised I wanted an MX5.
Fast forward a year and I was finally in the position to buy one, I was doing a lot of work mileage at the time, so went for the relative comfort of a mk2.5, I was also a big fan of the seats and slight facelift.
I did a little light reading up on them, including the 1.6 vs 1.8 debate, and decided that due to fuel and insurance at the time, a 1.6 would do the job.
In true heart over head fashion, I was totally smitten with the first car I viewed and drove, spec and condition was right, and colour was a bonus...A titanium grey 1.6 Phoenix, with heated sienna brown leather seats.
It turned out my 1 lady owner car had a few niggles, despite low mileage and regular servicing, so the first year I had to contend with some big service items, and the immobiliser deciding to pop, taking the crank sensor with it...a costly breakdown, and fairly rare in MX5 circles.
Well fast forward two years, and this is how she stands. A few light modifications- Full s/s system and topspeed backbox (loud but i like it), homebrew induction kit, and newly refurbed factory Enkei's, which are pretty light.
The car is reasonably well sorted now and drives well, recently put out 119bhp on an RR (even at ballpark,not a bad figure for a 1.6), so it's not doing badly for a 10 year old....a bit noisy and creaky,and not a concours car cosmetically but so much fun.
Future plans are to get it on coilovers, as it does look pretty 4x4 at the moment,arch gaps are huge! then maybe a black roll/style bar...hopefully all in time for JAE in september.
Fast forward a year and I was finally in the position to buy one, I was doing a lot of work mileage at the time, so went for the relative comfort of a mk2.5, I was also a big fan of the seats and slight facelift.
I did a little light reading up on them, including the 1.6 vs 1.8 debate, and decided that due to fuel and insurance at the time, a 1.6 would do the job.
In true heart over head fashion, I was totally smitten with the first car I viewed and drove, spec and condition was right, and colour was a bonus...A titanium grey 1.6 Phoenix, with heated sienna brown leather seats.
It turned out my 1 lady owner car had a few niggles, despite low mileage and regular servicing, so the first year I had to contend with some big service items, and the immobiliser deciding to pop, taking the crank sensor with it...a costly breakdown, and fairly rare in MX5 circles.
Well fast forward two years, and this is how she stands. A few light modifications- Full s/s system and topspeed backbox (loud but i like it), homebrew induction kit, and newly refurbed factory Enkei's, which are pretty light.
The car is reasonably well sorted now and drives well, recently put out 119bhp on an RR (even at ballpark,not a bad figure for a 1.6), so it's not doing badly for a 10 year old....a bit noisy and creaky,and not a concours car cosmetically but so much fun.
Future plans are to get it on coilovers, as it does look pretty 4x4 at the moment,arch gaps are huge! then maybe a black roll/style bar...hopefully all in time for JAE in september.
Update time, now sitting on Rokkor coilovers and a fast road handling setup courtesy of the lovely chaps at wheels in motion MK.
Sitting about 320/320, clears speedbumps ok sofar. Wishbones dead parallel to the floor.
Handling is a vast improvement over stock, much flatter through the corners and turn in is far better...overall much more confidence inspiring through the twisties.
And in spite of what some may say, rokkors aren't bad at all ride-wise when compared to stock shocks.
Sitting about 320/320, clears speedbumps ok sofar. Wishbones dead parallel to the floor.
Handling is a vast improvement over stock, much flatter through the corners and turn in is far better...overall much more confidence inspiring through the twisties.
And in spite of what some may say, rokkors aren't bad at all ride-wise when compared to stock shocks.
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